Tribe Opposes Knowles Dam
CHAR-KOOSTA
PUBLISHED BY CONFEDERATED SALISH AND KOOTENAI TRIBES, FLATHEAD AGENCY, MONT. Vol. 4 — No. 2 February, 1960
Large fir trees cut in Unit 10. Rails are not trimmed, causing serious fire hazard and impeding movement of livestock. Story below discusses this problem further.
140,000 Bales of Christmas Trees Harvested in 1959 on Reservation
By Joe Jackson, Forester
The past Christmas tree season reveals an all time record of harvest. 140,000 bales of trees were recorded as purchased by permitted buyers. The tribal stumpage from these trees amounted to $73,000.00. The calculated estimated income to the tribal members who harvested trees during 1959 shows they received $238,000.00. Many other tribal members received income from these same trees by working in the yards processing the bales and orders. Under proper utilization, cultivation, and supervision there is no reason why this income can not continue and possibly expand.
This year four tribal employees were hired to aid in Christmas tree supervision: they are, Shirley Tanner, Clerk; Ray Gardipe, Arlee District Policeman; Jack Garcia, Poison District Policeman; and Joe Parker, Hot Springs Policeman.
Joe Jackson, Forester, was assigned I he Christmas tree job after Mr. Elmer Hcisel transferred to Hoopa, California.
The heavy harvest of Christmas trees each year is compounding a serious prob-'(>n?- Small trees are becoming scarce which entices the cutter to cut above the 4 diameter limit. A tremendous number "f large trees were cut using a "swede" >aw. It might be wise to outlaw this t>pe of saw next season.
One of the numerous complaints comes from stockmen. Untrimmed rails impedes the movement of livestock thereby lowering effective range utilization. This becomes more obvious when large trees are felled and left untrimmed.
The accumulating slash caused by untrimmed rails poses a serious fire hazard. Slash will deteriorate rapidly if made to come in contact with the ground. But slash left in the air on the rails remains a fire hazard for years and increases the chance of crown fires.
An examination of the past few years shows that Units 4, 5 and 7 have borne the brunt of cutting operations. A survey will be conducted in these areas to determine the feasibility of closing all or some parts of these units to further Christmas tree cutting. To offset this closure, the Mission range country will be explored and any good Christmas tree sites will be made accessible by building low cost truck trails.
The impact of the three harvest on the forest resources of this tribe must be given consideration. The B. I. A. is responsible for safeguarding the tribal resources and in view of this will take steps this year to develop an acceptable program. The Forestry Branch will investigate the feasibility of contracting for Christmas trees during the 1960 sea-
ST. IGNATIUS — Flathead Indians are opposed to Paradise and Knowles Dams or other structures tha may affect tribal resources.
Walter McDonald, chairman of the Confederated Salish - Kootenai Tribal Council, said Thursday the council voted unanimously Nov. 30 to oppose any "downstream dam that may affect our resources and particularly the proposed dams at the Knowles or Paradise sites on the Clark Fork river."
McDonald said the tribe is "emphatic in its opposition to anything which will endanger our valuable resources of land and waters guaranteed us by treaty with the United States government. We are not going to give up these resources just because somebody else wants them. We feel the same about our resources as the man who owns 80 acres of land in this reservoir area."
Chairman McDonald pointed out the successful efforts of members of the Flathead tribe to "establish industrial operations dependent upon these resources. Included among these are Indian Livestock Association operations which require use of tribal grazing lands along the Flathead RiyeiC These winter grazing lands would be wiped out by waters rising behind Knowles or Paradise Dams with great damage to Indian ranchers.
"The proposed federal projects would drown out forever two practical and desirable power sites Buffalo No. 2 and Buffalo No. 4, on the Flathead River. We want to develop these sites for the best long-range advantage of the Flathead Indians.
"We are determined to protect all these resources and we refuse to be dissuaded from this stand. Our whole economy and the future of the Flathead tribe depends upon their preservation."
son. Contracts place responsibility on the purchasers for proper harvesting techniques. As more plantations come into operation, this means less demand for wild trees. If this reservation is to stay in the Christmas tree